Gutter Cleaning Apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for removing accumulated leaves and other debris from an overhead gutter of a building or the like, said apparatus including a blade adapted to skim a substantial portion of the internal skirt of said gutter to which leaves and debris are accumulated therein, and an elongated handle having one end adapted to be held by a user at a remote end substantially perpendicular to said blade.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gutter cleaner and to a method ofcleaning a gutter. In particular, but not exclusively, the presentinvention relates to a gutter cleaner and to a method of removingdebris, such as leaves and twigs, from a gutter.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

As is well known, drainage systems including gutters and down-pipes areutilised on buildings to redirect water from a roof of the building intoa drain or storage tank.

However, debris such as twigs, leaves, moss and the like tends tocollect in the gutter over a period of time, which can cause thedrainage system to become blocked. This in turn can cause the gutter tooverflow, speed corrosion and create standing water in the gutter, whichcan provide a breeding ground for insects.

Currently, it is common practice to clean gutters manually, for example,using a hand tool such as a trowel and/or by jetting water into thegutter. Access to the gutter to carry out a cleaning procedure isachieved using a ladder, or by mounting the building roof. The use of aladder is tedious, time consuming and potentially hazardous, andrequires a second person to support the ladder for safe operation,whilst climbing onto a building roof requires suitable fall preventionequipment such as a safety harness, which is frequently dispensed with.Injuries and fatalities occurring from falls from ladders are presentlyreported to occur at a rate of four per day in the United Kingdom.

One proposed solution to the problem of debris build-up in gutters hasbeen to mount a permeable cover or screen, typically a mesh, over themouth of the gutter. However, the screen itself tends to become blockedover a period of time, thereby impairing the function of the gutter.Accordingly, the screen itself requires periodic cleaning with theproblems discussed above.

It is amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention toprovide a gutter cleaner that obviates or mitigates at least one of theforgoing disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda gutter cleaner comprising:

-   -   a cleaning tool for cleaning a raised gutter; and    -   a support arm adapted to be coupled to the cleaning tool.

The support arm may allow location of the cleaning tool in the gutterand manipulation of the cleaning tool by a user to clean the gutter.

Advantageously, the support arm allows manipulation of the cleaning toolfrom a level below a level of the gutter, such as from ground level. Theinvention thus allows a single person to safely clean a raised oroverhead gutter without having to climb a ladder, and without a secondperson being needed to support the ladder. It will be understood thatreference herein to a raised or overhead gutter are to a gutter locatedat a height above ground level, for example, at an edge of a buildingroof.

The cleaning tool may be adapted to depend from the support arm, such asfrom an end of the support arm. Thus the cleaning tool may, in use, hangfrom an end of the support arm, allowing location of the tool in thegutter by placing the end of the support arm above the gutter.

The cleaning tool may be adapted to be located in the gutter with atleast part of the tool, such as a cleaning face of the tool,substantially perpendicular to a main axis of the gutter, or may beadapted to be located in the gutter with at least part of the tool at anangle, for example, between 0 and 90 degrees, relative to the guttermain axis. In a further alternative, the cleaning tool may be adapted tobe located in the gutter with at least part of the tool substantiallyparallel to a main axis of the gutter, for supporting material collectedfrom the gutter.

The cleaning tool may be adapted to expel material from the gutter bytranslation of the tool along the gutter, and may comprise a blade,knife, scraper, plate or the like.

Alternatively, the cleaning tool may be adapted to collect material fromthe gutter, and may define a container adapted to collect material fromthe gutter either during translation of the tool along the gutter, or byperforming a scooping action with the cleaning tool, by manipulation ofthe support arm. The cleaning tool may comprise an open end and aclosed, opposite end, the open end adapted to face a direction of travelof the cleaning toot. Material may be adapted to enter the cleaning toolthrough the open end for collection and subsequent removal from thegutter, and the closed end of the tool may be adapted to retaincollected material in the tool during translation along the gutter. Thecleaning tool may comprise a cover adapted to form the closed end of thetool, and the cover may be adapted to be releasably coupled to a body ofthe tool. The cleaning tool may comprise a scoop, trough, bucket,trowel, shovel or the like. The cleaning tool may comprise at least onedrainage hole or aperture to allow water to drain from the tool. Thehole may be dimensioned to prevent collected material from passingthrough, and/or may include a mesh, screen or the like.

The cleaning tool may be pivotable relative to the support arm, and maybe pivotally coupled to the support arm. Alternatively, the cleaningtool may be adapted to be connected to the support arm via a couplingarm or the like, and the coupling arm may be pivotally coupled to thesupport arm, or the cleaning tool may be pivotally coupled to thecoupling arm.

It will be understood that making the cleaning tool pivotable relativeto the support arm facilitates use of the gutter cleaner with wide arange of gutters of different heights. This is because an angle definedbetween the support arm and part of the cleaning tool can be varied,allowing a user to clean a range of gutters, for example, from arelatively low gutter to relatively higher gutters, without a need tostand progressively further from the building to access the highergutters.

In addition, roof tiles or a roof liner typically overhang the gutter toensure that water running off the roof falls into the gutter. This canpartially obstruct the mouth of the gutter, and can cause difficultiesin locating the cleaning tool in the gutter. However, making thecleaning tool pivotable relative to the support arm facilitates locationof the tool in the gutter beneath the roof tiles without requiringexcessive manipulation of the support arm, as may be the case where thecleaning tool is fixed relative to the support arm.

The cleaning tool may be pivotally coupled to the support arm by acoupling, which may include a spindle, shaft or the like, about whichthe cleaning tool may rotate relative to the support arm. Alternatively,the cleaning tool may be fixed relative to the support arm and may, forexample, be adapted to be rigidly coupled to the support arm.

The cleaning tool may be moveable between a deployment position and acleaning position. The cleaning tool may be moveable between a pluralityof deployment positions and one or more cleaning positions. In thedeployment position, the cleaning tool may be in a position whichfacilitates location of the tool in the gutter. For example, thecleaning tool may comprise a semi-circular blade or plate which may beadapted to be located in the gutter and moved to a cleaning positionwhere an upper edge of the blade is perpendicular to a main axis of thegutter. However, in the deployment position, the blade upper edge may beat an angle relative to the gutter main axis. In this position, theblade may be located by a vertical movement down into the gutter,without interfering with the roof tiles, the blade progressivelyrotating and moving to the cleaning position through contact with theinner surface of the gutter.

The cleaning tool may be selectively locatable in one of a plurality ofpositions, and may be biased towards a deployment position. For example,the cleaning tool may be sprung or otherwise biased towards a deploymentposition and may be selectively moveable towards a cleaning position,and locatable in an alternative deployment position between saiddeployment and cleaning position. The gutter cleaner may comprise acontrol assembly for moving the cleaning tool, which may comprise a wireor cable, and which may be adapted to move the tool against a biasingforce.

The support arm may be coupled to the cleaning tool at a location spacedfrom a central or neutral axis of the tool. This may allow the cleaningtool, when pivotable relative to the support arm, to adopt a deploymentposition under the action of gravity.

The cleaning tool may be adapted to be releasably coupled to the supportarm. This may allow the cleaning tool to be released from the supportarm for cleaning, storage, and/or replacement with an alternativecleaning tool.

At least part of the cleaning tool may be shaped to substantiallycorrespond or conform to a shape of a gutter, and said part of thecleaning tool may, for example, correspond to the curvature of an innersurface of an arcuate cross-section gutter.

The cleaning tool may be arranged to be brought adjacent to, or intocontact with, substantially an entire inner surface or perimeter of agutter, or over part of a perimeter thereof. In one embodiment, thecleaning tool may be adapted to be brought adjacent to, or into contactwith the gutter at a number of spaced locations around a perimeter ofthe gutter.

In use, the cleaning tool may be adapted to be in sliding contact withan inner surface of a gutter.

The cleaning tool may be adapted to be coupled to the support arm in oneof a plurality of positions, thus allowing a configuration of the guttercleaner to be altered. For example, the cleaning tool may be adapted tobe coupled to the support arm in a first or a second position, adaptedfor movement along the gutter in a respective first or second axialdirection. Where the cleaning tool comprises a container or the like,the cleaning tool may be adapted to be coupled to the support arm suchthat an open end of the cleaning tool faces a selected first or seconddirection along the gutter, for cleaning the gutter by translation ofthe cleaning tool in a selected one of said first and second oppositeaxial directions. Alternatively, the cleaning tool may be locatable inone of a plurality of positions or different angles relative to thesupport arm.

The support arm may be telescopic. This may facilitate use of the guttercleaner for cleaning a range of gutters of different heights.

The gutter cleaner may comprise a set of interchangeable cleaning toolswhich may be adapted to be selectively coupled to the support arm. Theset of cleaning tools may comprise a number of cleaning tools eachhaving a different shape, profile, dimension(s) and/or curvature, forcleaning a range of gutters of different shapes or sizes. This enablesthe correct shape and/or size of cleaning tool to be selected forcleaning a gutter of a particular shape or profile.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda gutter cleaner comprising a cleaning tool for cleaning a raised gutterand a support arm adapted to be coupled to the cleaning tool, whereinthe cleaning tool is arranged such that at least a portion of thecleaning tool corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the raisedgutter.

Providing a cleaning tool having a portion corresponding to thecross-sectional shape of the gutter enables a gutter to be cleaned moreeffectively than when using prior tools and techniques.

The cleaning tool may be adapted to be translated with respect to thegutter to clean the gutter.

It will be understood that other features of this aspect of the presentinvention may correspond to features disclosed with respect to the firstaspect of the present invention. For example, the cleaning tool may beadapted to be located in the gutter with at least part of the tool, suchas a cleaning face of the tool, substantially perpendicular to a mainaxis of the gutter, or may be adapted to be located in the gutter withat least part of the tool at an angle, for example, between 0 and 90degrees, relative to the gutter main axis. The cleaning tool may beadapted to expel material from the gutter on translation of the toolalong the gutter, and may comprise a blade, knife, scraper, plate or thelike. Alternatively, the cleaning tool may be adapted to collectmaterial from the gutter, and may define a container adapted to collectmaterial from the gutter during translation of the tool along thegutter.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod of cleaning a gutter, said method comprising the steps of:

-   -   locating a cleaning tool in a raised gutter; and    -   manipulating the cleaning tool to clean the gutter.

Preferably, the method comprises manipulating the cleaning tool from alevel below a level of the gutter. Preferably also, the method comprisestranslating the cleaning tool with respect to the gutter.

The method may include the step of coupling the cleaning tool to thesupport arm and manipulating the support arm to locate the cleaning toolin the raised gutter.

The method may comprise expelling material from the gutter bytranslating the cleaning tool with respect to the gutter, for example,by providing a cleaning tool in the form of a blade or the like.Alternatively, the method may comprise collecting material from thegutter in the cleaning tool, by translating the cleaning tool withrespect to the gutter, for example, by providing a cleaning tool in theform of a scoop or the like, and may comprise subsequently removing thecollected material from the cleaning tool. The method may furthercomprise translating the cleaning tool along part of a length of thegutter to collect material from the gutter in the cleaning tool,removing the collected material from the cleaning tool, and thenrepeating said steps as necessary to clean a desired length of thegutter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way ofexample only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a gutter cleaner in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention, shown in use duringcleaning of a gutter;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the gutter cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of part of the gutter cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 & 5 are enlarged side views of the gutter cleaner of FIG. 1,shown in first and second deployment positions, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a gutter cleaner in accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a gutter cleaner in accordancewith a further alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view of part of the gutter cleaner of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a gutter cleaner in accordancewith a still further alternative embodiment of the present invention,shown in use during cleaning of a gutter;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view of part of the gutter cleaner of FIG.9; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a gutter cleaner inaccordance with a still further alternative embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Turning firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a guttercleaner in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, thegutter cleaner indicated generally by reference numeral 10.

The gutter cleaner 10 is shown in FIG. 1 in use, during cleaning of araised gutter 12 located at an edge 14 of a roof 16 of a building 18.The gutter 12 extends along the roof edge 14 in a conventional fashion,with tiles on the roof 16 slightly overhanging the gutter 12 such thatwater from the roof 16 is directed into the gutter 12.

The gutter cleaner 10 is shown in more detail in the enlarged side viewof FIG. 2, and the further enlarged top view of FIG. 3, and generallycomprises a cleaning tool 20 for cleaning the gutter 12 and a supportarm 22 adapted to be coupled to the cleaning tool 20.

The cleaning tool 20 is manipulated by a user 24 (FIG. 1) through thesupport arm 22 to locate the cleaning tool 20 within the raised gutter12. The cleaning tool 20 is shown in FIG. 2 in a cleaning position whichthe tool adopts on location in the gutter 12. The cleaning tool 20 isthen translated along a length of the gutter 12 in the direction of thearrow A or B, to expel debris such as leaves, twigs and moss which havecollected in the gutter 12. The process of cleaning the gutter 12 isthus achieved from the level of the ground 26, without requiring theuser 24 to climb a ladder, or to climb onto the roof 16.

In more detail, the cleaning tool 20 includes a semi-circular blade 26which is pivotable with respect to the support arm 22. The blade 26 isconnected by a pivot pin 28 to a coupling in the form of an arm 30,which is in-turn connected to an upper end 32 of the support arm 22 by aconnection 34, such as a threaded or snap-fit connection. However, itwill be understood that the support arm 22 may equally be coupleddirectly to the blade 28.

As shown in more detail in the top view of FIG. 3, the coupling arm 30includes a slot 36 which defines an opening for receiving the blade 26,and which allows the blade 26 to pivot about the pivot pin 28 betweenfirst and second deployment positions, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,respectively.

In the first deployment position of FIG. 4, an upper edge 38 of theblade 26 is at an angle with respect to a main axis of the gutter 12,movement of the blade 26 beyond the position of FIG. 4 being preventedby an edge 40 of the slot 36 (FIG. 2).

The pivot pin 28 is located off-centre from a neutral access of theblade 26, to encourage the blade 26 to tilt to one of the deploymentpositions and in the first deployment position of FIG. 4, the blade 26may be easily directed under the overhanging edge of the tiles on theroof 16 and thus into the gutter 12, by locating the blade 26 verticallyabove the gutter and lowering the blade into the gutter. As a lower edge42 of the blade 26 comes into contact with an inner surface 44 (FIG. 1)of the gutter 12, the blade 26 is automatically rotated about the pivotpin 28 to the cleaning position of FIG. 2. This is achieved withoutexcess manipulation of the cleaning tool 20, as would be the case wherethe blade 26 fixed with respect to the support arm 22. However, it willbe understood that in embodiments of the invention, the blade 26 may becoupled in such a fixed fashion to the arm 22, for example, through arigid connection.

As the blade 26 is translated along the gutter 12 in the direction A orB, any material in the gutter 12 is scraped out and expelled from thegutter 12, falling to the ground 26.

It will be understood that by pivotally coupling the blade 26 withrespect to the support arm 22, the gutter cleaner 10 may be used forcleaning gutters at different heights, including gutters which are loweror higher than the gutter 12 illustrated in FIG. 1.

This may be achieved by the user standing closer or further away from abuilding such as the building 18, or indeed by adjusting a length of thesupport arm 22. Indeed, in the illustrated embodiment, the support arm22 is telescopic to allow such adjustment, and for ease of storage ofthe cleaning tool 10.

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is shown a gutter cleaner in accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the guttercleaner indicated generally by reference numeral 110. Like components ofthe gutter cleaner 110 with the gutter cleaner 10 of FIGS. 1-5 share thesame reference numerals, incremented by 100.

The gutter cleaner 110 includes a cleaning tool 120 comprising a scoopor trough 146, which is coupled to a support arm 122 through a rigidconnection between a sleeve 152 on the trough 146 and a coupling arm130, fixed using a nut 153. The scoop 146 is thus connected in a rigidfashion relative to the support arm 122, although the scoop 146 mayequally be pivotally coupled with respect to the support arm 122, in thefashion of the gutter cleaner 10 of FIGS. 1-5.

The scoop 146 includes an open end 148 and a channel 150 which defines acontainer for collecting debris from the gutter 12 of FIG. 1 duringtranslation of the cleaning tool 120 along the gutter. In the positionof FIG. 6, the gutter cleaner 110 is configured for movement along thegutter 12 in the direction of the arrow B. However, the support arm 122may be released from the sleeve 152 and coupled to sleeve 152′, in theposition indicated in broken outline. This allows the gutter cleaner 110to be moved along the gutter in the opposite direction, that is in thedirection of the arrow A.

Typically, the gutter cleaner 110 is moved along part of a length of thegutter 12, to fill the scoop 146 with debris. The cleaning tool 120 isthen lifted out of the gutter 12 and the debris is removed from thescoop 146 before returning the cleaning tool 120 to the gutter 12 toclean a further length of the gutter.

The scoop 146 also includes optional drainage holes or apertures (notshown) to allow water to drain from the trough, the holes sized toprevent collected material from passing through.

Turning now to FIG. 7, there is shown a perspective view of a guttercleaner in accordance with a further alternative embodiment of thepresent invention, the gutter cleaner indicated generally by referencenumeral 210. Like components of the gutter cleaner 210 with the guttercleaner 10 of FIGS. 1-5, or the gutter cleaner 110 of FIG. 6, share thesame reference numerals incremented by 200 and 100, respectively.

The gutter cleaner 210 includes a cleaning tool 220 having a scoop 246similar to the scoop 146 of the gutter cleaner 110.

However, the scoop includes an optional top cover 254 and an end plate256. The end plate 256 is releasably coupled to the scoop 246, and canbe located at either end 258, 260 of the scoop 246. This allows thecleaning tool 220 to be translated along the gutter 12 in eitherdirection A or B, to clean the gutter, by simply locating the end plate256 at the end 258, 260 of the scoop 246 opposite to the direction oftravel of the scoop. Thus in FIG. 7, the end 260 is shown open, with theplate 256 located at the end 258, the cleaning tool 220 thus beingconfigured for translation along the gutter 12 in the direction of thearrow B.

Additionally, the support arm 222 includes a frame 262 which ispivotally coupled to the cleaning tool 220. In more detail, the frame262 includes a spindle 264 extending between arms 268 of the frame 262,and the scoop 246 includes three loops 266, shown in more detail in FIG.8. The loops 266 receive the spindle 264 such that the cleaning tool 220is pivotable with respect to the support arm 222, to facilitate locationof the cleaning tool 220 in the gutter 12, in a similar fashion to thegutter cleaner 10 of FIGS. 1-5.

The top cover 254 retains collected material in the scoop when thecleaning tool 220 is lifted out of the gutter, and thus prevents thematerial from falling out of the scoop 246 when it pivots about theframe 262.

In an alternative embodiment, the scoop 246 may include loops 266′ onthe top cover 254 for receiving the spindle 264, or the frame 262 may beconnected to the scoop 246 at any of the locations a, b or c illustratedin the Figure.

Turning now to FIG. 9, there is shown a perspective view of a guttercleaner in accordance with a yet further alternative embodiment of thepresent invention, the gutter cleaner indicated generally by referencenumeral 310. Like components of the gutter cleaner 310 with the guttercleaner 10 of FIGS. 1-5 share the same reference numerals, incrementedby 300.

The gutter cleaner 310 is shown in use during cleaning of the gutter 12,part of which is shown in FIG. 9. Access to the gutter 12 is achieved byusing a ladder, in a conventional fashion.

However, the gutter cleaner 310 includes a cleaning tool 320 mounted toa support arm 322. The cleaning tool 320 includes a semi-circular plate326, which conforms to the internal shape of the gutter 12, in a similarfashion to the blade 26 of the gutter cleaner 10. The cleaning tool 320is translated along the gutter 12 in the direction A or B by a usermanipulating the support arm 322, and the shape of the blade 326 is suchthat debris is expelled from the gutter 12 in a much improved fashioncompared to tools which are currently typically used for cleaninggutters.

Also, in a similar fashion to the gutter cleaner 10 and as shown in theside view of FIG. 10, the blade 326 is pivotable relative to the supportarm 322 and is connected to a coupling arm 330 by a pivot pin 328, thearm 330 including a slot 336 limiting movement of the blade 326 betweendeployment positions similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, tofacilitate location of the cleaning tool 20 in the gutter 12 beneath anyoverhanging roof tiles.

Turning now to FIG. 11, there is shown a perspective view of a guttercleaner in accordance with a further alternative embodiment of thepresent invention, the gutter cleaning indicated generally by referencenumeral 410.

Like components of the gutter cleaner 410 with the gutter cleaner 10 ofFIGS. 1-5 share the same reference numerals, incremented by 400.

The gutter cleaner 410 is in fact similar to the gutter cleaner 110 ofFIG. 6, except the support arm 422 is pivotally coupled by a pivot pin428 to a trough 446 of cleaning tool 420. Also, the trough 446 ismoveable between cleaning and deployment positions, in a similar fashionto the cleaning tool 20 of the gutter cleaner 10. However, the guttercleaner 410 includes a control assembly 470 for moving the trough 446between deployment and cleaning positions.

For example, the trough 446 may be moveable to a deployment positionsimilar to the position of the cleaning tool 20 illustrated in FIG. 4and is optionally biased such as by a spring, for example, a torsionspring on pivot pin 428, towards the deployment position. The controlassembly includes a wire or cable 472 which runs along the support arm422 and is coupled at a corner 474 of the trough. A user may actuate ahandle assembly 476 to pull in or pay out the wire 472, therebyadjusting the rotational position of the trough 446 about the pivot 428.This allows the trough 446 to be moved between an extreme deploymentposition similar to that of the cleaning tool 20 shown in FIG. 4, and acleaning position, such as that shown in FIG. 11, and indeed to beplaced in any alternative deployment position therebetween. It will beunderstood that the trough 446 need not necessarily be biased towardsthe extreme deployment position, and that where the support arm 422 iscoupled to the trough 446 by an off-centre pivot, the weight of thetrough may urge the trough towards the extreme deployment position.

Various modifications may be made to the foregoing within the scope ofthe present invention.

For example, the gutter cleaner 310 may share features with any one ofthe gutter cleaners 10, 110 or 210 of FIGS. 1-9. The gutter cleaner 310may therefore include a scoop such as the scoop 146 or the scoop 246 ofthe gutter cleaners 110 or 210.

Any one of the trough—type cleaning tools may optionally includedrainage holes/apertures.

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 16. An apparatus for removing accumulated leaves and other debris from an overhead gutter of a building or the like, said apparatus including, a blade adapted to skim a substantial portion of the internal skirt of said gutter to which leaves and debris are accumulated therein, an elongated handle having one end adapted to be held by a user at a remote end substantially perpendicular to said blade wherein the handle is adapted to be grasped by a user along varying lengths of said handle, the blade includes a protruding tab at a corner of the upper edge, said tab including an aperture or the like to which the handle could be inserted there into such that the handle is kept away from peripheral surfaces of the blade, where such surfaces are responsible for engaging and dislodging the leaves and debris as the apparatus is pulled along a length of the gutter.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the handle extending substantially perpendicular from the blade includes a fold to raise one portion of the handle at a higher elevation to the other when in use in the gutter.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the blade is adapted to be pushed or pulled along the internal skirt of the guttering such that both front and rear faces of the blade are adapted for such a task.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the blade defines a peripheral edge which defines a shape of a corresponding design of a gutter.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein it is made from hard durable plastic.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the handle telescopically encloses portions which can be extended out, according to the amount of length required to be cleaned along the guttering.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the handle and the blade are stored separately, and then when in use the handle is connected to the blade.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the handle is threaded and inserted into the blade by a mated threading arrangement between the respective handle and blade.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23 further including a shovel wherein the shovel includes a handle, fold and trough wherein the shape of the trough allows the shovel to be aligned and scooped across the gutter to collect a pile of debris provided for by pushing or pulling of the blade.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the blade includes a bottom edge, said edge tapered to create a continuous tip or sharper edge along said bottom edge such that the sharper bottom edge provides greater ability to scrap or dislodge debris that has dried or become stuck to the surface of the gutter. 